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The state has tallied 44 traffic-related fatalities in the first six months of this year, two more than in the first six months of last year.
Of the 44 fatalities the state has counted from Jan. 1 to Wednesday, 17 involved motor vehicle occupants, 10 involved pedestrians, 16 involved motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters, and one involved a bicyclist.
It was also eight more than the tally for the first five months of 2021, when there were 36 traffic-related fatalities.
There is a noticeable uptick in motorcycle/scooter-related fatalities — 16 so far this year compared to 10 at the same time in 2020.
In June, traffic fatalities involved the death of an 82-year-old woman after she was struck by a vehicle while walking in a marked crosswalk in Kalihi.
A 50-year-old woman driving a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro collided with the senior shortly after noon on June 22 while traveling along North King Street and approaching the Umi Street intersection.
Police said the woman was transported to a hospital as a precautionary measure, and initially listed in good condition, but later succumbed to her injuries.
The majority of traffic-related fatalities, 26, took place on Oahu, while 12 took place on Hawaii County, and six on Maui County. Kauai County had no traffic-related fatalities.
Traffic volumes, which dropped about 30% during pandemic-related closures last year, have since returned to near pre-pandemic levels along most portions of the H-1 Freeway. Along one section of the freeway, volume actually increased 1%, according to the DOT’s traffic volume tracker.
The Maui Police Department said starting Friday, and continuing through this Fourth of July weekend, its traffic division will be conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols at various locations around the island.
The Honolulu Police Department said it will continue unannounced, impaired driver checkpoints through Aug. 31, including the Fourth of July and Statehood Day holidays.
TRAFFIC-RELATED DEATHS IN HAWAII
Jan. 1 to June 30, 2021
>> State: 17 motor vehicle occupants, 10 pedestrians, 16 motorcycles and scooters, 1 bicyclist (44 total)
>> City and County of Honolulu: 7 motor vehicle occupants, 9 pedestrians, 9 motorcycles and scooters, 1 bicyclist (26 total)
>> Hawaii County: 7 motor vehicle occupants, 1 pedestrian, four motorcycles and scooters (12 total)
>> Maui County: 3 motor vehicle occupants, 3 motorcycles and scooters (6 total)
>> Kauai County: 0
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